Electric window operating mechanism

ABSTRACT

The operating mechanism for a window includes an electric motor fastened to a mounting plate which is a unitary zinc diecasting formed with bearings, backing surfaces, and retaining claws for the movable elements of the mechanism including a gear wheel driven by the motor and a circumferentially toothed segment meshing with the gear wheel. A guide sleeve pivoted on the plate slidably receives the window operating lever, one end of which is hingedly connected to a radial crank arm on the segment. Angular movement of the segment is limited by an abutment on the plate, and a spiral spring biases the segment away from the position of abutment in a direction to assist lifting of the window and to brake its descent.

Ilnited States Patent 1 [111 3,783,702 Dehler Jan. 8, 1974 1 ELECTRIC WINDOW OPERATING [75] Inventor: Bernhard Dehler, Coburg, Germany [73] Assignee: Metallwerk Max Brose & Co.,

Coburg, Germany [22] Filed: June 7, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 260,628

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 28, 1971 Germany P 21 32 067.2

52 us. Cl....... 74/89, 49/349 51] Int. Cl. Fl6h 27/02 [58] Field of Search 74/89, 89.19;

[56] References Cited 7 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,552,061 1/1971 Hermann .f. 74/89 2,684,847 7/1954 Barden 49/349 3,499,212 3/1970 Russell et al..... 75/86 2,595,580 5/1952 I-li1l.... 49/349 MECHANISM FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,431,861 2/1966 France 49/350 Primary ExaminerCharles J. Myhre Assistant Examiner-Wesley S. Ratliff. Jr.

Attorne vl(urt Kelman et al.

[57] ABSTRACT The operating mechanism for a window includes an electric motor fastened to a mounting plate which is a unitary zinc diecasting formed with bearings, backing surfaces, and retaining claws for the movable elements of the mechanism including a gear wheel driven by the motor and a circumferentially toothed segment meshing with the gear wheel; A guide sleeve pivoted on the plate slidably receives the window operating lever, one end of which is hingedly connected to a radial crank arm on the segment. Angular movement of the segment is limited by an abutment on the plate, and a spiral spring biases the segment away from the position of abutment in a direction to assist lifting of the window and to brake its descent.

9 Claims, S'Drawing Figures PATEMEUJAN 81874 SHtEI l I]? 2 ELECTRIC WINDOW OPERATING MECHANISM This invention relates to electrically operated windows, and particularly to an operating mechanism for such windows.

It is common practice to provide a manually operated window lifting mechanism with a support which is a flat piece of sheet metal in which apertures are drilled and to which lugs are secured by welding or riveting in order to permit the movable elements of the mechanism to be mounted on the sheet metal.

This system of assembly is not satisfactory in an electrically driven window operating mechanism. The forces transmitted from an electric drive motor through a speed reducing gear transmission to the window pane to be lifted are of such a magnitude that they cannot be handled by elements and a support useful in a manually operated window mechanism. The reaction forces to be withstood by the support are entirely out of range of the usual sheet metal member.

Merely increasing. the weight of the sheet metal enhances vibrations and operating noise in the mechanism. When rivetted connections are resorted to, the rivets work loose and provide an additional source of noise or of more serious malfunctioning.

The primary object of the invention is'the provision of an electric window operating mechanism free of the shortcomings of the known devices which are mere modifications of handoperated devices, and to provide an electric window operating mechanism which can safely transmit the sizeable forces involved, yet is practically free of noise and vibrations. An additional object is the provision of an electric window operating mechanism which can operate over extended periods of time without requiring periodic maintenance and overhaul.

According to the invention, all movable elements of the window operating mechanism are mounted on a unitary, substantially flat mounting plate carrying integral linear stiffening ribs and constituted by the main portion of a continuous body of metal. The elements mounted on the plate include a rotatable gear wheel, a disc-shaped, pivotally mounted segment whose toothed rim meshingly engages the gear wheel, a pivotally mountedguide member, an elongated window lifting bar having a terminal portion hingedly fastened to a radial crank arm fixed on the segment and a longitudinally intermediate portion slidably received in the guide member. Pivotal movement of the segment is limited by cooperating abutments on the segment and on the plate, and the segment is resiliently biased away abutment on the plate is also an integral part of the metal body.

from its position of abutment. The gear wheel is driven by an electric motor fixedly fastened to the plate.

Respective additional, integral portions of the continr uous metal body mentioned above constitute a shaft carrying the gear wheel, a backing ring whose circular face slidably engages the gear wheel, a bearing member carrying the segment, an annular reinforcing rib circling the bearing member, a conical pedestal for the guide member,.and raised circular rims in which apertures in the plate are centered. Approximately L- shaped claws which are further portions of the continuous metal body are circumferentially distributed about the segment, and the toothed rim of the latter is movably received between the free terminalportions of the claws and the plate, the claws and the plate providing mountings for pressure members which movably engage the segment. A bracket'for the afore-mentioned The. unitary metal body which thus constitutes the plate and the several attachments for the movable elements does not provide a source of noise and vibration, and damps vibrations and noise generated elsewhere in the mechanism if it is a zinc alloy diecasting.

Other features, additional objects, and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will readily be appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in connection with the appended drawing in which:

FIG. I shows a window operating mechanism of the invention in side elevation;

FIG. 2 illustrates the mechanism of FIG. 1 without its electric motor and in a different operating position in section on the line II II;

FIG. 3 shows the zinc alloy diecasting constituting the mounting plate and associated devices of the mechanism of FIG. 1 in a corresponding view; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the diecasting of FIG. 3 in section on the lines IV IV and V V respectively.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, there is shown only as much of the electric operating mechanism for the window of a motorcar as is necessary for an under standing of the invention.

. All other elements of the mechanism are secured on a mounting plate 2 which is essentially flat and constituted by the main portion of a body of zinc diecasting alloy which also forms numerous other elements as will presently become apparent. The source of motive power for the mechanism is an electric motor 3 attached to the plate 2 by flanges 4 and non-illustrated threaded fasteners. The reversible motor 3 drives a speed-reducing gear transmission of which only the casing 5 is seen in FIG. 1. The casing Sis attached to the plate 2 by eyes 6 in the plate and studs 7 on the easing.

As is better seen in FIG. 2, the output pinion of the transmission in the casing 5 meshes with an intermediate gear wheel 8 which in turn engages the partly toothed rim of a disc-shaped segment 9. A radial crank arm 10 fixedly fastened to the segment 9 is connected to one end of the window operating bar 11 by a hinge pin 12, the non-illustrated end of the bar 111 being connected to the window that is to be lifted and lowered. The pivotal movement of the segment 9 is limited by an abutment 13 which radially projects from its rim, and by a cooperating abutment l4 whichis a block of rubber or other elastomeric material threadedly adjustable on an integral bracket 20 on the disc 2.

The intermediate gear wheel 8 is freely rotatable on a bearing sleeve 15 of bronze or similar harder metal which protects a stub shaft 16 integrally diecast with the plate 2. The wheel 8 is axially secured on the shaft 16 by a retaining ring 18 partly received in an annular, circumferential groove 17 in the free end of the shaft 16. The ring 18 holds the wheel 8 in sliding engagement with the flat, annular, radial face of a backing ring 19 coaxial with the shaft 16 and integral with the plate 2.

A bearing for the segment 9 is provided by a tubular shaft 21 integrally cast with the plate 2 which is reinforced by an annular rib 23. The shaft 21 is protected by a bearing sleeve 22 of harder metal, as described above. The rib 23 which circles the shaft 21 slidably backs andv guides the segment 9. For further guiding and securing the segment 9, the plate 2 is integrally cast with two claws 24 omitted from FIG. 2 for the sake of clarity. As is best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the claws are approximately L-shaped, and their free terminal portions provide mountings for rounded pins 25 slidably engaging a radial face of the segment 9, the toothed rim of the segment being movably received between the terminal portions and the plate 2. Recesses 26 in the plate 2 provide further mountings fo'r pins 25 which slidably engage the other radial face of the segment 9, all pins 25 being equidistant from the pivot axis of the segment.

A pin 28 is received in the bore of the shaft 21, and a slot 27 in its head receives the inner end of a spirally wound leaf spring 29. The outer end of the sprial spring is hooked over an axial, eccentric pin 30 on the segment in such a manner as to bias the segment 9 counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 1, away fromthe position in which the abutments 13, 14 engage each other. In the position of the mechanism seen in FIG. 1, the non-illustrated window is held by the bar 11 in its highest position, and the spring 29 is tensioned when the window is lowered, so that it brakes the descent of the window, and its resilient force assists in raising the window. The spring also maintains tight engagement between the several meshed elements to avoid gear chatter and other noise during operation of the mechanism.

A hollow bearing pedestal 31 of frustoconical shape is integrally cast with the plate 2 and carries a pivotally mounted guide 32 of approximately C-shaped cross section in which the bar 11 is slidably received. The small end of the pedestal 31 has an opening 33 in which a rivet 34 attached to the guide 32 is rotatably mounted. The guide 32 provides a fulcrum for the bar 11. The forces transmitted from the bar 11 to the plate 2 during movement of the bar are very substantial, particularly when the hinge pin 12 is close to the pedestal 31 to shorten the fully illustrated lever arm of the bar 11. The pedestal 31 is reinforced for this reason with ribs 35 which radiate from the axis of the rivet 34 in respective, angularly offset, axial planes.

The mechanism shown in FIG. 1 is fastened to the non-illustrated car door by three heavy bolts 37 passing through respective eyes or openings 36 in the plate 2.

As is best seen in FIGS. 3 to 5, the plate 2 is stiffened and reinforced by integral ribs which are partly linear and partly loop-shaped. One such rib 38 extends in a closed loop about the circumference of the plate 2. Several connecting ribs 39 are connected with the rib 38, and also connect linear ribs 40 with each other. The ribs 40 connect the backing ring 19, the annular reinforcing rib 23, the pedestal 31, and the raised circular rims about the various openings in the plate 2, such as the ribs 44 about the eyes 36. Ribs 41 on the claws 24 are connected by a rib 42 which extends spacedly about the stub shaft 16 and the gear wheel 8 mounted thereon so as to prevent contamination of the teeth thereof, as best seen in FIG. 2. To provide an effective wall, the height of the rib 42 is approximately equal to the spacing of the free terminal portions of the claws 24 from the plate 2.

A relatively large circular opening 43 in the plate 2 gives access to the hinge pin 12 for occasional lubrication, and weakening of the plate by the opening is prevented by suitable circular and linear ribs in a manner evident from FIG. 3.

Raisedrims 44 are also formed in the casting die about the fastening eyes 6 to transmit stresses from the plate 2 to the non-illustrated door structure.

The afore-described apparatus operates as follows:

When the motor 3 is energized, the bar 11 is pivoted about the axis of the rivet 34 and also longitudinally slides in the guide 32. The non-illustrated end of the bar 11 moves in an approximately S-shaped path to raise or lower the window in a manner not explicitly illustrated, but known in itself. The downward movement of the window is limited by engagement of the abutments 13, 14. The upward movement is normally limited by abutments engaged by the window itself. The motor 3 includes a clutch which slips under an overload as is conventional in electric window mechanisms and not specifically illustrated, but limit switches in the circuit of the motor have also been employed for the same purpose and may be used with the illustrated device in an obvious manner.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates only to a preferred embodiment of the invention, and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purpose of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A window operating mechanism comprising, in combination:

a. a unitary, substantially flat mounting plate carrying a plurality of integral, linear stiffening ribs and constituted by the main portion of a continuous body of pressure-cast metal, respective integral portions of said body projecting from said plate and constituting l. a first shaft,

2. a second shaft, said shafts having respective axes,

3. a first backing member having a face,

4. a second backing member, and

5. a bearing member having an axis;

b. a gear wheel coaxially rotatable on said first shaft in sliding engagement with said face;

c. a disc member mounted on said second shaft for pivoting movement about the axis of said second shaft, said disc member having a toothed rim meshingly engaging said gear wheel and being backed by said second backing member during the pivoting movement thereof;

d. a window lifting bar;

6. a guide member mounted on said bearing member for pivoting movement about the axis of said bearing member;

f. motion transmitting means connecting said bar to said disc member for moving said bar in response to said pivoting movement of the disc member, said guide member engaging said bar for guiding the same during the moving thereof by said motion transmitting means; and

g. drive means for rotating said gear wheel, said drive means including an electric motor fixedly fastened to said plate and operatively connected to said gear wheel. 2. A mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said metal is a zinc alloy.

3. A mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein respective, additional, integral portions of said body constitute a plurality of approximately L-shaped claws circumferentially distributed about said disc member and having respective free terminal portions, said toothed rim being movably received between said free terminal portions and said plate; means on said free terminal portions for mounting respective pressure members for movable engagement with said disc member.

4. A mechanism as set forth in claim 3, wherein a rib of said second group extends from one of said claws spacedly about said shaft and said gear wheel to another one of said claws, the height of said lastmentioned rib being approximately equal to the spacing of said free terminal portions of said claws from said plate.

5. A mechanism as set forth in claim 3, wherein said plate is formed with recesses respectively adjacent said free terminal portions, and a plurality of pressure members respectively mounted on said free terminal portions and in said recesses for receiving said disc member therebetween in movable engagement.

6. A mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said face of the first backing member is transverse to the axis of said first shaft.

7. A mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second shaft is tubular, and said second backing member is a circular reinforcing rib on said plate centered in the axis of said second shaft.

8. A mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bearing member is hollow and conical about said axis thereof.

9. A mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein a further integral portion of said body projecting from said plate constitutes a bracket, and cooperating abutment means on said bracket and on said disc member for limiting said pivoting movement of the disc member. 

1. A window operating mechanism comprising, in combination: a. a unitary, substantially flat mounting plate carrying a plurality of integral, linear stiffening ribs and constituted by the main portion of a continuous body of pressure-cast metal, respective integral portions of said body projecting from said plate and constituting
 1. a first shaft,
 2. a second shaft, said shafts having respective axes,
 3. a first backing member having a face,
 4. a second backing member, and
 5. a bearing member having an axis; b. a gear wheel coaxially rotatable on said first shaft in sliding engagement with said face; c. a disc member mounted on said second shaft for pivoting movement about the axis of said second shaft, said disc member having a toothed rim meshingly engaging said gear wheel and being backed by said second backing member during the pivoting movement thereof; d. a window lifting bar; e. a guide member mounted on said bearing member for pivoting movement about the axis of said bearing member; f. motion transmitting means connecting said bar to said disc member for moving said bar in response to said pivoting movement of the disc member, said guide member engaging said bar for guiding the same during the moving thereof by said motion transmitting means; and g. drive means for rotating said gear wheel, said drive means including an electric motor fixedly fastened to said plate and operatively connected to said gear wheel.
 2. a second shaft, said shafts having respective axes,
 2. A mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said metal is a zinc alloy.
 3. A mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein respective, additional, integral portions of said body constitute a plurality of approximately L-shaped claws circumferentially distributed about said disc member and having respective free terminal portions, said toothed rim being movably received between said free terminal portions and said plate; means on said free terminal portions for mounting respective pressure members for movable engagement with said disc member.
 3. a first backing member having a face,
 4. a second backing member, and
 4. A mechanism as set forth in claim 3, wherein a rib of said second group extends from one of said claws spacedly about said shaft and said gear wheel to another one of said claws, the height of said last-mentioned rib being approximately equal to the spacing of said free terminal portions of said claws from said plate.
 5. a bearing member having an axis; b. a gear wheel coaxially rotatable on said first shaft in sliding engagement with said face; c. a disc member mounted on said second shaft for pivoting movement about the axis of said second shaft, said disc member having a toothed rim meshingly engaging said gear wheel and being backed by said second backing member during the pivoting movement thereof; d. a window lifting bar; e. a guide member mounted on said bearing member for pivoting movement about the axis of said bearing member; f. motion transmitting means connecting said bar to said disc member for moving said bar in response to said pivoting movement of the disc member, said guide member engaging said bar for guiding the same during the moving thereof by said motion transmitting means; and g. drive means for rotating said gear wheel, said drive means including an electric motor fixedly fastened to said plate and operatively connected to said gear wheel.
 5. A mechanism as set forth in claim 3, wherein said plate is formed with recesses respectively adjacent said free terminal portions, and a plurality of pressure members respectively mounted on said free terminal portions and in said recesses for receiving said disc member therebetween in movable engagement.
 6. A mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said face of the first backing member is transverse to the axis of said first shaft.
 7. A mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second shaft is tubular, and said second backing member is a circular reinforcing rib on said plate centered in the axis of said second shaft.
 8. A mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bearing member is hollow and conical about said axis thereof.
 9. A mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein a further integral portion of said body projecting from said plate constitutes a bracket, and cooperating abutment means on said bracket and on said disc member for limiting said pivoting movement of the disc member. 